The Wilmingtonian., 1887-05-14
.Inlln nj. CLAYTON.

The Grafton delivered by Chief Justice
Comegys Wednesday evening at the Grand
Opera House upon the life, character, and
services of John NJ. Clayton, will go upon
the historical anna of our State as an
archiye peculiarly well worth preservation.
The prominence of the speaker, the prom
inence of the subject of his address and also
the marked distinction of tue membership
of his audience, all indicate an event OF un-
usual importance in our annals.
1t is QUESTION whether there was gath
cred upon any public platform within the
annals of our State such dist nguished au-
dence as that which occupied the stage the
evening refer ed to.
The list of satesme en- and citizens repre-
senting almost all that exists of prominence
in Delaware, ektd out by names of national
Significance was something unique. The
National Congress and Government, State
officials and the executive, the bench, the
bar, the pulpit, and our representative c'ti-
zens all came together as with one accord to
do honor not alone to the great name OF
John NJ. Clayton, but equally to pay will
ling tribute Of respect to gentleman whom
all his ftllow-citizens, irrespective of parti-
zan feelings were glad Of the opportunity to
do pubic honor to-
With the overt intention OF honoriDg the
memory Of Delawares greatest son the
scarcely hidden wish of Complimentng the
Chief Justice of Delaware only too ap-
parent.
That the occasion would be n success was
apparent from the outset. Every reason
came together fortuitously to that end. No
more grateful subject could be chosen for a
Delaware audience than that which Judge
Comegys spoke upon.
The complimentary banquet given the
orator was something unique in itself.
1t also was perfect success The speeches
of the Hon. Benjamin Harris Brewster, Gov
ernor Biggs, Judge Houston, William c.
Spruance, Rev. j. s. Willis, the Hon. Geo.
Bates, Colonel Benjamin Nields, Watson r.
Spelry General Parke Postles and Mayor
Rhoads were listened to with unhagging
interest thlCugl out the late hours of the
night
In addition to the special guests of the
occasion the following list is given of those
invited to the banquet:
William Bush, L. T. Warner, f. N. Buck,
w. H. Swift, H. T. Cause, ]. r. Nicholson,
i. Q. Nandegrift,, Esq, James L. Wolcott,
e. r. Cochran, f. II. Hoilecker, Esq, r.
S. Culbreth, John X. Bradford, Esq, L. A.
Bower, DR.. j. i. Fraptz, A. G. Smith, Cap.
rain Horace Wilson, II. c. McLcar, DR.. L.
p. Bush, w. H. PiersOn, E. NJ. Hopes, A
G. McCausand, II. c. Conrad, Esq, George
A. Maxwell, T. L. Gaharn, ]. N. Gawthi op
c. Baird, Captain W. II. Smith, II, G. Jones
P. N. Brennan, c. p. Johnson, Joshua
Pusey, j. r. Heald, George II. Bates, Esq
DIR. S. A. Draper II. IL. Carter, ]. II. Hof
fecker, Jr, Esq. c. R. Mckenzie, Preston
Lea, Anthony Higgins, ESQ, Watson r
Sperry, DR.. i. p. Buck, Levi @. Bird, Esq,
w. G. Pennypacker, Joseph Pyle, j. L. Car
penter, Jr., II. G. Robinson, John w. def
endorf, w. A. Reynolds S. II. Baynard, r
II, Taylor, William II. Hill, Jesse X. Baylis
q. w. Goodey, G. w. Murphey, John IL
Rodney, Esq, Giles Lambson, A. G. vii
son, G. G. Lobdell, Austin Harrington, Esq
Colonel II. X. DUPONT, E. G Bradford, Esq.
A. D. Warner, Washington Hastings, Jol
II. jackson, George w. Bush, George 5. Ca
pele, Edward Belts, II. G. Banning, Vcto
Dupont, Esq, George w. Humphry, DIR. L
W. Maull, F. +. Crawford, d. p. Barnard
DR.. Cooper, Victor Cause b, II. Brewster
Jr., S. N. Trump, F. b. Cotton, c. II. How
land, II. f. Pickels, James Scott, $, II
Smith, S. s. Wiley, Harry Enmons, Esq
j. l.. Devon, w. f. Robinson, w. g. Farra
J. J. Whitaker, ]. L. Saville, Daniel James
Jr., G. A Elliott, j f. Bggs, Esq, G 7
Brown, Esq, A. L, Sauborn, Esq, ]. L
CheyneY, w. II. Hayes, Esq, ". II. Porte
ESQ, j. w. Mehaify, Q. G. Rumford, II. "
Gocdell, II. II. Ward, Esq. c. NJ. Curtis
ESQ, Willard Salisbury, Jr, Esq, job
Bisgs, Esq, G. II. G. Hoffecker, George W
Roberts, Solomon Hersey, N. b. Smther
Esq, the Rev ]. 5. Willis, DR.. II. {
Snjtcher G. +. Thomas, f, NJ. Hunt, Georg
G. Lobdell, William Stimmcl. Hon. Johu Il
Cowen, Frederick E Bach, Colonel lIenr
A. Dupont, Hon. Waiter A. Burrows, f,
Johns, II. V. Cause, Daniel James, Robe
McCaulley, Frank w. Person, w. N Nj
Cormick, Solomon Kilen, the Rev. ].
Estlin, G. w. Kennedy, ]. Travers JONI
and Charles NJ. Newlin.
The arrangements of the banquet did fu
credit to the committee of the A. o. U. v
who had the matter in charge. The fea
was excellently placed upon the table.
Covers for about 100 guests had been lai
There were not more than two or three '
cant seats. Ia front of each guest was la
handsomely engraved menu card bearir
tile name of the occupier Of the seat, an /
scription descriptive of the occasion al
the toasts, along with those who W re tb |
sTond.
Among the latter were Chief Justice Coz
cgys, Attorney General Brewster, W.
Sprnance and others already referred to.
The dinner aud menu card was as follow
Complimentary Banquet
rendered to
The Hon. Joseph P. COmegys,
Chief Justice Of the State of Delaware,
by his friends in the city Of Wilmington,
the occasion of his delivering an
o alton on the life,:: character and pub
~